Method of making article carriers



Aug. 24, 1954 E. L. ARNESON A METHOD OF MAKING ARTICLE CARRIERS 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1951 'INVENTOR. ldz/mldrmorz Aug. 24,1954 E. 1.. ARNESON METHOD OF MAKING ARTICLE CARRIERS Filed March '20,1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmvron Ida/4221 (Zr/265012,

Aug. 24, 1954 E. 1.. ARNESON 2,637,067

METHOD OF MAKING ARTICLE CARRIERS Filed March 20, 1951 4 Sh etsh t 3 749 68 lazz/z/zl i orz,

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METHOD OF MAKING ARTICLE CARRIERS Filed March 20, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4IN V EN TOR. [0201/2 L. d/7Z650 Patented Aug. 24, 1954 METHOD OF MAKINGARTICLE CARRIERS Edwin L. Arneson, Morris, 11]., assignor to MorrisPaper Mills, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March20, 1951, Serial No. 216,611

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved method of manufacturing onan existing gluing machine a paperboard carrier for a plurality ofarticles of uniform size and shape, such as bottles or cans.

It is an object of the invention to provide a collapsible paperboardarticle carrier which is fabricated from .a one-piece blank and ischaracterized by a continuous, hingedly connected end and side wallstructure and a longitudinal par tition extending medially fromend-to-end thereof, in which the partition is, in the flat, knockdowncondition of the completed carrier, detachably connected to the wallstructure for improved ease of handling the carrier, both during thecourse of its manufacture and for later packing. shipment and storage.

Another object is to provide an article carrier of the above sort inwhich, in one embodiment thereof, the medial, longitudinal partition issecured to the bottom of the carrier for increased load supportingstrength.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide anarticle carrier for a plurality of uniformly sized and shaped objectswhich has a sturdy end and side wall structure and bottom constituting abox-like or tray-like. article receiver, and a partition extendinglongitudinally of the latter between its opposed end walls, whichpartition may be adhesively secured to the bottom by means of anintegral glue lap and is temporarily connected integrally to one of theside walls, in the fiat, knocked-down condition of the carrier, by meansof a perforated line, which line is adapted to be broken or rupturedwhen the carrier is erected, enabling the wall structure and partitionto be swung from a flat, knockdown condition to a right angle to thecarrier ing the side walls.

A further object is to provide a tray-like article carrier constructionfabricated from a onepiece paperboard blank, which is entirely enclosedaround its bottom side and end margins and which features a longitudinalpartition formed integral with one of the side walls and glued to thebottom for increased ease of manufacture on existing gluing machinery,this partition being adapted to be quickly and easily separated from theside wall in erecting of the carton, yet retaining a strong adhesivelysecured connection to the bottom.

Yet another object is to provide a carrier as set forth in the precedingparagraph in which the longitudinal partition is further connected by agusset connection to the end walls, in addition to the bottom connectionreferred. to, in order to produce a very stable, strong carrier,notwithstanding the fact that a minimum of paperboard stock is employedin its construction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved methodof manufacturing an article carrier of the character set forth in thepreceding paragraphs, especially well adapted to be performed onexisting gluing and folding apparatus.

The foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the natureof the invention. Other and more specific objects will be apparent tothose skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the constructionand operation of the device.

Two embodiments of the invention are presented herein for purpose ofillustration, and it will be appreciated that the invention may beincorporated in other modified forms coming equally within the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a. top plan view of the paperboard blank employed in themanufacture of the carrier, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention, illustrating the manner in which the blank is died out,creased and perforated as a preliminary to the folding operations;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4, are, respectively, top plan views illustratingsuccessive folding and gluing operations which are performed on theblank of Fig. l in completing the carrier;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the completed carrier in anintermediate position during final erection thereof from its flat,knockdown condition, shown in Fig. 4, to an erected condition;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the carrier in a further stageof erection, indicating in dotted line the manner of manipulatingcertain end wall locking and bracing flaps to their final position;

Fig. 7 is a view in transverse vertical section along line l--l of Fig.6, showing the partition and end wall construction of the carrier;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a blank employed in producing a modifiedembodiment of the invention;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are top plan views illustrating successive steps inthemanipulation of the blank of Fig. 8 to completed knock-downcondition, shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 12 is a plan View of a separate, cell-defining element which isadapted to be associated with the modified form of carrier to sub-divideits interior into a plurality of equal sized, individual articlereceiving cells;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the erected condition of thecarrier and also indicating the operative relationship to that carrierof the celldefining element of Fig. 12; and

Figs. 14 and 15 are, respectively, views in longitudinal and transversevertical section along lines corresponding to I l-I l and I 5I5 of Fig.13, further illustrating internal structural characteristics of theimproved carrier.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 4 of the drawings, illustrating a simpleform of longitudinally partitioned carrier, characterized in completedcondition by a bottom, end and side walls integrally conjoined theretoand a longitudinal medial partition paralleling the side walls, thereference numeral I generally designates a blank flexible paperboardstock from which the carrier is formed. This blank is subdivided intovarious panels as follows: A pair of parallel, longitudinally extendingcreases I I, I2 hingedly connect a pair of like rectangular side wallpanels I3, It to a rectangular bottom forming panel I5 disposed betweenthose creases. A pair of further creases Is at right angles to creasesII and I2 define the opposite end margins of the bottom panel I5 andserve to hingedly connect thereto the like end wall forming structures,generally designated I'I. Each of these bottom end wall structurescomprises a triangular end wall panel I8 immediately adjoining bottommarginal crease It and having its other two sides defined by inclinedcreases I9. Each crease I9 in turn hinges to the triangular panel I8 agusset type glue flap and an end wall lock fiap 2|, the respective flaps23, 2| being separated from one another by an inclined slit 22 extendinginwardly to crease I3. The end wall flaps 20 are each subdivided by anintermediate crease 23 into an inner gusset portion 24 and a glue lap orear 25.

The end portion of the blank which adjoins the side wall panel I Iconstitutes a longitudinal partition and handle structure, generallydesignated 26, and one of the features of the invention deals with themanner in which this partition structure of blank I!) is associated withthe other components of the completed carrier. It comprises arectangular longitudinal partition panel 2? provided, in spaced relationto its outer extremity, with a crease 28 along which it may be foldedlaterally for stacking of a number of the loaded carriers. Finger holes29 adjoin the bend line 28. The opposite lower margin of the panel 27 isdefined by a crease 3B which hingedly joins the same to a longitudinallyextending glue strip 01' zone 3I, and the panel 2! is adapted to befolded at a right angle along crease 30. The opposite longitudinalmargin of glue zone 3| is defined by a weakened line of perforations 32or by equivalent separable connection. This weakened connection holdsthe panel 2'! to the remainder of the blank during successive steps ofmanufacture, thereby facilitating the folding and gluing operations. Italso adds to the adaptability of the completed, knocked-down carrier forhandling in shipment and storage. However the perforations which connectthe partition to side wall panel I4 are readily ruptured when it isdesired to put the carrier in use, allowing the side wall and partitionto move apart in setting up the carrier, as will be hereinafterdescribed.

The partition structure 26 is completed by a gusset type end wallconnecting flap 33 on each end margin, hinged thereto by a crease 34.Flaps 33 are each in turn subdivided by a crease 35 into a triangulargusset portion 36 and a glue lap portion 31.

In forming the carrier from the blank of Fig. l, the end wall flaps 2!]at both ends of the bottom panel I5 are first folded inwardly about therespective angular creases I9 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2,after which adhesive is applied thereto in the zone which overlies thebottom panel, i. e., to glue laps 25, as indicated by stip pling in Fig.2. Adhesive may also be applied at this time to the glue zone 3| of thepartition structure 23 and to the glue lap portions 3! of end fiaps 33of thelatter, as also indicated by stippling in Fig. 2.

With the blank in this condition, the outer side wall panel I3 is foldedupwardly, inwardly and downwardly about crease I I, as illustrated inFig. 3, causing the same to adhere adjacent its opposite ends to theupwardly exposed, adhesive coated surface of glue laps 31. The blank isthen folded upon itself about the inner bottom margin defining creaseI2, as illustrated in Fig. 4, causing the side wall panel I4, the gluezone 3| and the partition panel 21 to overlie the previously foldedportion of the blank, with the glue zone adhesively connected to thebottom panel I5, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The second set of glue laps25 are adhered to the ends of side wall panel I4, and the glue lapportions 3'! of the end flaps 33 on partition 2'! are adhered to theinner surfaces of the triangular bottom end walls I8.

It will be noted that the line of perforations 32 continues to connectthe glue flap or zone SI of partition panel 27 with the side wall panelI4 and it will be appreciated that due to this temporary connection thecompleted, knocked-down carrier is well suited for ready handling inshipment or storage. It will also be appreciated that the temporaryconnection afforded by the line of perforations enables the carrierblank to pass endwise, in the direction of its length, through astraight line gluing machine, with a minimum tendency to snag, so thatimproved control of the blank in its passage through the gluingapparatus is obtained.

In erecting the completed knocked-down carrier, the first step is tosever the line of perforations 32 manually, leaving the longitudinalpartition panel 2! secured by glue zone 3I to the carrier bottom I5.This may be accomplished simultaneously with the swinging of the opposedtriangular end wall panels I8 inwardly and upwardly toward positionnormal to bottom I5, since this swinging tends automatically to shiftthe side wall panel I4 outwardly and upwardly with respect to the bottomglue zone due to the glued connections shown and described. Once theseverance of the perforations 32 is accomplished the opposed side wallsI3, I4 continue automatically to swing away from the bottom towardserected condition. As the end walls are swung inwardly toward oneanother the longitudinal partition likewise swings automatically towardvertical position, due to its gusset connection by flaps 33 to the endwall panels I 8.

When the parts are in erected relationship, the generally triangular endWall locking tabs 2| are swung inwardly of the carton walls anddownwardly, those on one side of the longitudinal partition beingbrought over the triangular gusset portions 36 of flaps 33 which lies inface-to-face engagement with end wall panel I8. The tips of tabs 2| arethen inserted into the openings provided by centralU-shaped slits 33formed in bottom end margins l6. They are thus held against returnswinging movement.

The completed carrier is shown in Figs. 5, 6

and 7. The partition 21 is well braced at its margins adjoining the endwalls, due to its adhesive securement by the gusseted flaps 31. Thelocking and bracing flaps 2| resist lateral sway of the partition andsubstantially stiffen the latter, by reason of their edge engagementwith opposite sides of the partition at its ends and by theirrestraining action on the triangular gusset portions 36 which underliethe same. The carrier may be restored to inoperative, knocked-downcondition by simply disengaging the tabs 2|, whereupon the parts arereturned readily to flat condition.

A modified embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 8 through 15,embodying the same general principles of construction and fabricated bya like method. In this form the longitudinal partition panel 40 of thelongitudinal partition structure, which is generally designated ll isnot secured to the rectangular bottom panel 42. Howeverpit istemporarily connected to the adjoining side wall panel 43 by thelongitudinal series of perforations 44. Shaped, transversely extendingslots 45, narrowed at their inner ends are formed in the lower margin ofpanel 40, which coincides with the perforations 44, for a purpose to bedescribed.

Side wall panel 43 is hinged to a side margin of bottom panel 42 by acrease 46 and the opposite. side margin of panel 42 is flexibly joinedby crease 4'! to a further side wall panel 48. The latter is subdividedby inclined creases 49 to render the same collapsible. Bottom panel 42is also provided with two parallel, transverse slots 50 which arenarrowed at their ends and extend across the major portion of the widthof the bottom, in transverse alignment with the slots 45 in partitionpanel 40. Hence the latter are disposed immediately above slots 58 whenthe partition is operatively disposed at a right angle to and above thelongitudinal center of bottom 42.

The end margins of the various panels referred to above have flapprovisions flexibly connected thereto at opposite ends thereof in thefollowing manner: The partition panel 48 has, at each end,

an end wall bracing flap flexibly articulated thereto by a marginalcrease 52, the flap 5| being subdivided by an inclined crease 53 into agenerally triangular, outer end wall connecting member 54 and a glue lap55. Side wall panel 43 is equipped with a pair of end wall engagingflaps 56, hinged thereto by marginal creases 57. Bottom forming panel 42includes an end wall defining portion 58, hinged thereto by marginalcrease 59, and a glue lap 60 is articulated to panel 58 by inclinedcrease 6 l, which glue lap is adapted to be secured to the adjacent flap56 on the side wall panel. Each of these end wall panels 58 is nicked at62 adjacent a longitudinal medial line through bottom panel 42, thisprovision being intended for the reception and lateral bracing ofpartition panel 40 when the latter is erected to vertical position. Theremaining side wall panel 48 is, like the opposite side wall panel 43,equipped with end wall engaging and bracing flaps 62, which are hingedthereto by marginal creases 64. The respectiv sets of. flaps 54, 56, 68,63 are separated from one another by slotting of the blank outwardly oftheir respective articulated creases, hence are individuallyfoldablerelative to the panels which they adjoin.

In completing the carrier from the blank of Fig. 8, the flaps 54 areswung inwardly about creases 52 onto the partition panel 48 and theirrespective glue laps 55 are reversely folded up wardly and downwardly tothe position of Fig. 9. Similar operations are performed on bottom endwall panels 58 and their associated glue laps B5. The flaps 56 adjoiningthe side wall panel 43 are also folded inwardly upon that panel. At thesame time, a top reinforcing and gripping flap 85 which may beintegrally connected to partition panel 40 by a crease 66 may be foldedinwardly and downwardly and secured to the panel 40 to reinforce thelatter at its gripping zone. However, this feature may be dispensed withif desired.

With the blank in the position illustrated in Fig. 9 adhesive is appliedin the manner indicated by stippling, i. e., to the out-turned side wallflaps 63, and to the respective pairs of triangular glue laps 55 and B8.The triangular portions of the side wall panels 48 which are defined byinclinedcreases 49 are now folded inwardly and downwardly about thesecreases, as illustrated in Fig. 10, causing the flaps 53 to adhere tothe exposed upper surfaces of th end wall panels 58 of bottom 52. Theblank. is completed by folding the bottom and the thus folded side wellabout the bottom defining crease 45 to the position illustrated in Fig.11.

This adhesively secures the glue laps of the end wall panels to thein-turned side wall end flaps 56, as well as the triangular glue laps 55of the longitudinal partition 40 to the end flaps 63 of sid wall panel48. The partition panel 40 remains temporarily secured to side wall 43by the line of perforations 44, but is freed therefrom when the carrieris erected. This is accomplished by swinging the infolded end wallstructure outwardly, exerting pressure on the line of perforations toassist in rupturing the same. As the end wall structures swing towardsthe vertical, the freed side wall likewise swings outwardly, thepartition panel 48 swings to the vertical and the opposite, angularlycreased and folded side wall panel 48 also straightens from collapsed toplanar position while swinging inwardly toward the vertical. Engagementof the end margins of longitudinal partition 40 in the nicks 62 in theend wall panels 58 resists return swinging of the longi tudinalpartition and thus tends to brace the carton as a whole in its fullyerected condition, shown in Figs. 13-15.

In the event it is desired to convert the carrier to one which isfurther subdivided into cells on opposite sides of its longitudinalpartition, particularly when bottles or other breakable articles are tobe transported, it is only necessary to employ the separate cell unitshown in Fig. 12 and designated by the reference numeral 68. This is anelongated, generally rectangular strip of flexible paperboard,subdivided adjacent its middle by two transverse score lines 69, 10.These lines are spaced from one another in accordance with the spacingof the bottom slots 50 and longitudinal partition slots 45. Nicks H areprovided at the opposite termini of creases 69, 10, and .the

opposing ends of the element 68 are provided with longitudinallyextending slots 12 which approximate in length the length of thepartition slots 40. In use, the element 68 is bent about creases 69, 10to a U-shaped outline and, with the carrier in erected condition, isthrust upwardly through the slots 50, causing its slots 12 to mate withpartition slots 45 and to engage opposite sides of the partition 40. Thenicks H catch and interlock with opposite narrowed ends of the bottomslots 59, thereby vertically sustaining the cell defining unit 68 inplace, in the fashion illustrated in Figs. 13, 15 and 16 of thedrawings. Thus there is aiforded a carrier construction which is readilyconverted by a simple manipulation from a noncellular, two-divisioncarrier for non-breakable articles, such as cans, to a cellular type forarticles requiring a greater degree of individual protection.

In both embodiments, the carrier employs a minimum of stock but which isamply strong for its intended purposes. Either form may be easily andquickly returned from erected condition to a flat, knocked-downcondition, when desired.

I claim:

1. A method of manufacturing article carriers comprising preparing ablank of flexible paperboard stock by creasing the same along parallellines to define a pair of side wall panels, a bottom panel lying betweenand integrally hinged by longitudinal creases to said side wall panels,a longitudinal partition panel lying adjacent one of said side wallpanels, and a portion integrally connecting said partition panel andadjacent side wall panel, forming a weakened and readily severable butintegral longitudinal connection between said portion and adjacent sidewall panel, folding said blank at the crease connecting said bottompanel to said adjacent side wall panel to bring said adjacent side wallpanel, said weakened connection, said connecting portion and saidpartition panel into overlying relation to the remainder of the blank,with said portion and weakened connection extending longitudinally andmedially along said bottom panel, securing said portion to said bottompanel, and thereafter severing said weakened connection to detach saidlongitudinal partition panel from said adjacent side wall panel.

2. A method of manufacturing article carriers comprising preparing ablank of flexible paperboard stock by creasing the same along parallellines to define a pair of side wall panels, a bot tom panel lyingtherebetween and integrally hinged thereto by certain of said creases,and a longitudinal partition panel lying adjacent one of said side wallpanels and integrally hinged thereto by another of said creases, forminga weakened and readily severable but integral longitudinal connection insaid partition panel paralleling said hinge crease thereof, thereby todefine an attaching zone paralleling said hinge creases, folding saidblank at the crease connecting said last named side wall panel to saidbottom panel to bring said last named side wall panel and said partitionpanel into overlying relation to the remainder of the blank, with saidweakened connection and attaching zone extending longitudinally andmedially along said bottom panel, adhesively securing said zone to saidbottom panel while leaving all said other panels free from each other,and thereafter severing said weakened connection to detach saidlongitudinal partition panel from said adjacent side wall panel and todefine a free lower edge therefor.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 in which the preparation of theblank includes the further operation of providing a pair of spacedtransverse parallel cuts in said partition panel which are spaced fromthe ends thereof and extend from said weakened connection substantiallyinwardly toward the opposite margin of the panel.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2 in which the preparation of theblank includes the further operations of providing a pair of spacedtransverse parallel cuts in said partition panel which are spaced fromthe ends thereof and extend from said weakened connection substantiallyinwardly toward the opposite margin of the panel and of providing acorrespondingly spaced pair of parallel cuts in said bottom panel intransverse alignment with said first named cuts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,167,770 Mullenix et a1. Aug. 1, 1939 2,191,197 Gray Feb. 20,1940 2,228,451 Gilfillan Jan. 14, 1941 2,564,449 Ringler Aug. 14, 1951

